COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 14, 2022

QUESTION NO. 42

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to detail contacts he has had in relation to the challenges in respect of facilitating Ukrainan Refugees; will he update members on the situation in our County and will he make a statement?

REPLY:

The Ukrainian Community Response Forum, chaired by the Council's Chief Executive and comprising representatives from the Council, HSE, TUSLA, Civil Defence, An Garda, DDLETB, South Dublin Volunteer Centre, Youth Services, South Dublin County Partnership and other agencies, meets on an ongoing basis to highlight emergency response needs and seeks to find solutions within the capacity of the agencies represented.  The forum is also attended regularly by representatives from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) who are the lead Government Department dealing with all refugee and asylum applications and accommodation matters.

The Council also works in partnership with key agencies to deliver direct supports to those living in emergency accommodation across the county and does this by working closely with a dedicated team within the South Dublin County Partnership and South Dublin Volunteer Centre. Key evidence-based areas of need are identified by this group using interviews and surveys with residents in emergency accommodation and from this feedback solutions and responses are developed in response.  Urgent issues arising in areas such as social welfare, health, educational and material (e.g., emergency winter clothing for children) can be supported quickly and effectively in most cases.

Together with DCEDIY and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage also has a role in exploring potential accommodation options for Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection and a new national call for additional vacant properties to be pledged in this regard is being finalised and will be managed through local authorities.

Recent Healthy Ireland funding of €66,675 has been provided to offer further augmented supports to Ukrainian refugees in the County, and particularly their social integration in Ireland over the coming months.